2023 WFF Flagship event
The World Food Forum's (WFF) flagship event is comprised of the WFF Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. These three interlinked fora advance bold and actionable solutions to catalyze the transformation of our agrifood systems in light of the current challenges and crises, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the current and next generation and their combined ingenuity in science, technology and innovation – and investments in key areas of food and agriculture.
In 2023, the WFF flagship event will take place from 16 to 20 October at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy and virtually. The week will foster dialogue and debate among relevant stakeholders, ranging from the young and the youthful, farmers, small-scale producers, Indigenous Peoples, policymakers, agri-investors and scientists, tuning in from the four corners of the world, all with one goal: moving the needle for food security to achieve a better food future for all, leaving no-one behind.
WFF Theme 2023: Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action
The agrifood systems that encompass the journey of food from farm to table and beyond touch every aspect of our lives and reach every corner of the planet. Yet instead of harnessing their immense potential for positive impact, we are letting agrifood systems wreak havoc on our climate and environment.
Currently, agrifood systems account for one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, 90 percent of global deforestation and 70 percent of water use globally, and are the single greatest cause of terrestrial biodiversity loss, putting pressure on food value chains. Food is also the single largest category of material placed in municipal landfills and we lose or waste enough food to feed 1.3 billion hungry people every year.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, transforming agrifood systems can - and must - be a central part of the global climate solution. It can significantly accelerate climate action and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By creating efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems we can mitigate and adapt to climate change, increase biodiversity and restore ecosystems, while also ensuring food security and better nutrition through agrifood systems that enable and sustain healthy diets, and a more equitable future for all.
That’s why in 2023 the World Food Forum (WFF) is committed to the theme: “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action.”
By bringing together the WFF Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, the WFF will foster an intergenerational dialogue among agrifood stakeholders, and advance bold and actionable solutions to catalyze the transformation of our agrifood systems to enhance climate action.
